Citing export demand from South East Asian and CIS markets, Hyderabad-based Shantha Biotech is planning to increase the manufacturing capacity of interferon alpha by four fold, according to senior officials with the company. Currently the company manufactures about 40,000 vials per year. Shantha Biotech has already chalked its plans for the expansion, which encompasses the construction of a multi product facility near its plant in Hyderabad. This plant will be dedicated to interferon alpha, and other protein therapeutic products including G-CSF (filgrastim). The facility is likely to be constructed by mid-2004.

"Tasting the quality of Shantha's interferon alpha abroad, demand is pouring in for more. According to our estimates, we will have to increase the capacity up to about 1.5 lakh vials per year to meet the international demand," said Priyadarshi Matruprasad, a brand management executive with Shantha Biotech.

Shantha already supplies its product hepatitis-B vaccine to the markets like South East Asia and CIS through the Unicef route. "We also have tie ups with trade communities and individual companies in these regions. Utilising these channels, we would augmenting our trade abroad," said the company official.

Interferon alpha is used in the treatment of myeloid leukemia, and hepatitis B and C. With 40,000 vials per year capacity, Shantha already controls 15 per cent of interferon market in the country. Other players in the market operating domestically include Fulford, Schering Plough, Roche, LG Chemicals and Zydus Cadila. Wockhardt is the new player planning to enter the segment. Shantha is the only player in the market manufacturing interferon indigenously, the rest importing from countries like Korea, China, Cuba and Argentina. Shantha has priced its interferon at Rs. 525 per 3 MIU vial and Rs. 675 per 5 MIU vial. Shantha develops its interferon on yeast Pichia Pastoris.

Hoffman La Roche (Switzerland), Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Schering Plough (Germany), Pharmacia Upjohn (US), Rhein Biotech (Germany), and Amgen (US) are the MNCs marketing Interferon across the globe.